Over the last 20-plus years, soccer has risen in the United States and players wanting to have a long career in the country now have that option. The 1994 World Cup was the first real exposure many US fans had to the game. Two years after the event, the country’s Major League Soccer opened its doors with just 10 teams.

Despite some starts and stops over the next 10 years, MLS really became a player in sports in the US in 2007. It also made headlines around the world. That year saw English superstar David Beckham join the Los Angeles Galaxy. It can be said that soccer’s foundation was laid between 1996 and 2006. Once Beckham joined, the league was able to really takeoff and grow the sport.

Now, soccer seems to be growing leaps and bounds. Every time you turn around, a new team or club is being founded. MLS, which doesn’t have promotion and relegation, is adding teams through expansion. In 2018, the league will welcome its 23rd club, Los Angeles FC.

But it isn’t just MLS that is expanding. The lower leagues are too, in particular, the United Soccer League. In 2018, the second division of the sport in the US will have 35 clubs, and will add three further clubs in 2019. It is an unbelievable situation, especially when MLS was reportedly about to go out of business back in the early 2000s.

Soccer has truly arrive in the USA, and what that means for players around the world is there are teams needing talent. Some players are going to the USA as a springboard to move to Europe. Others have gone to the USA and carved out a great career.

Players looking for an opportunity can find it with the number of clubs that are available to join. From California to Florida, teams are available for players to continue their careers. You may never have thought of the USA, or Canada, as an option; but it could be a great place to look at when it comes to playing professional or semi-professional soccer.